Classifying Gauge Vacuum Feeder

ABSTRACT

It relates to an equipment to transport and move material which transfer products in bulk into one by one; it receivers a certain amount of pieces ( 1 ) and delivers one by one to the next industrial process. This equipment transfers products from a belt conveyor ( 2 ) to a weighing system ( 8 ) of products on a constant flow; it comprises a rotating cylinder ( 5 ) with holes ( 9 ) on the cylindrical surface which suck the pieces ( 1 ) one by one discharging them in a sequence over a weighing and grading system ( 8 ).

It is related to an equipment to transport and move material, which transfers products in bulk one by one; it receives a certain amount of pieces and delivers one by one to the next industrial process. In the food industry for example a certain amount of boneless chicken breast fillets transported on a belt conveyor are put over a scale one piece at the time.

Solid products of rigid material having a settled geometrical form such as a box, are separated from the continuous flow of a belt conveyor with the help of a mechanical deviator like a hurdle plate, pneumatic or hydraulic piston. A cylinder is also used with dragging plates on the cylinder surface: when the cylinder turns around the solid products that come all together are moved one by one by the plates. So, the products that come all together to the cylinder come out one by one. Equipments which use mechanical processes as the one mentioned above simply don't work when the product is flaccid, without a defined shape as the boneless chicken breast fillet, fish fillet, chicken wings and other.

In the paper industry the cellulose fibers flow on a water stream and then a layer of fibers sticks to a cylinder surface. This cylinder surface is perforated, like a net, and a vacuum is made inside the cylinder in a way that the fiber layer of cellulose sticks to it by suction; after almost a complete turn the fibers, now in a paper form, are disconnected from the cylinder. This suction system on a cylinder-turning surface is also used in the printing industry when there is a need to turn the side of the paper sheet that is on the conveyor. The paper sheet covers the cylindrical surface which sucks it; the paper sheet sticks to and stands close to the cylindrical surface while turning in an angle of approximately 360 degrees when the suction force is interrupted and the paper sheet disconnects from the cylinder and falls over another conveyor.

The equipment hereby described uses the vacuum system on a cylindrical surface of a cylinder to catch item by item from a certain amount of flaccid products and from there put them on top of a tray for individual weighing. The equipment is a transfer device from a transport means to another transport means or to a weighing system. The cylindrical surface of the cylinder has holes, which communicate with a vacuum pump. Using an arrangement as described such items may be gripped individually by the cylinder e.g. the suction hole(s) of the cylinder, transported to another location, e.g. a conveyor band or the like, and released for further processing, transport etc. In this manner the delivered items will be placed individually and for example with a minimum distance between the items on a conveyor band. Even further, the arrangement may serve to even out a flow of items being delivered.

The flaccid items arrive through a conveyor and are accumulated next to the cylindrical surface and each hole sucks one piece; this piece is transported along the rotating cylinder on a distance smaller than the cylinder turn and when the suction is interrupted on this hole the piece falls over the weighing belt. The number of holes as well as their diameter and positioning on the cylinder surface are determined according to the product to be transported: its size, weight and flabbiness degree. The rotation speed adjustment of the cylinder enables to catch and send approximately 50 to 180 pieces per minute one by one to the weighing unit. The inventive act is centered on the use of holes on the cylindrical surface that catches individually by suction solid pieces and flaccid material.

Also, it is noted that the apparatus according to the invention may be utilized for handling items that may differ in size, shape, weight etc. from each other.

FIG. 1 shows schematically the flow of pieces (1) transported by a conveyor (2) and accumulating (3) next to the cylindrical surface of cylinder (5) where they are caught (4) and carried by the rotating cylinder (5). They are released and fall (6) over a belt (7) of the weighing scale (8).

FIG. 2 shows the existing holes (9) on the cylindrical surface of cylinder (5) connected by internal tubes (10) to the side holes (11).

FIG. 3 shows an internal side flange (12) with an arc of holes (13) surrounded by a sealing joint (16).

FIG. 4 shows an external side flange (14) with a vacuum distribution chamber (15) and the suction tube (17) that is connected to the vacuum pump, not shown.

FIG. 5 is cylinder (5) perspective cut view showing, the internal tubes (10) which connect the existing holes (9) on the cylindrical surface and the existing holes (11) on the surface of one of the bases of the cylinder (5).

The FIG. 6 shows schematically another embodiment to transport the pieces (1) by means of belt (2) now placed under the cylinder (5) surface when they are caught (4) and carried by the rotating cylinder (5). They are released and fall (6) over a belt (7) of the weighing scale (8). The pieces (18) which were not caught by the cylinder (5) continue their way on belt (2) to discharged point (19) in order to be replaced on the belt (2).

The FIG. 7 shows different types of sockets (20 to 24) which are connected to the holes (9).

The vacuum generated by the vacuum pump, not shown on the drawings, follows by a tube (17), reaches the holes (13) on the internal side flange (12) through the distribution chamber (15) on the external side flange (14) lined up with the existing holes (13) on the internal side of flange (12). With the help of a sealing joint (16) the vacuum is transmitted through the existing holes (11) on the surface of one of the bases of the cylinder (5) until it reaches the existing holes (9) on the cylindrical surface of cylinder (5). To the existing holes (9) on the cylindrical surface are coupled sockets with nozzles having geometrical shape and size according to the material characteristics which is being transported.

The flaccid pieces (1) have substantially similar size and weight; they are transported through a belt (2) until next to the cylindrical surface of cylinder (5); by suction the pieces (1) stick to holes (9) on the rotating cylindrical surface; after a 120 to 210 degree turn the vacuum action on holes (9) is interrupted and the pieces (1) are disconnected one by one from the cylinder (5) and fall over a belt (7) than being transported until they pass over a weighing cell that weighs item (6) by item (6) and grades the items to packing and storing. The holes (9) have sockets (20 to 24) with a proper geometric form for each type of product to be transported. The sockets have a form of a cylinder body with an axial cylindrical hole in which the base in contact with the product has different nozzle shapes such as of an elliptical cross-section (20), of a normal cross-section (21), of a hollow truncated cone (22), of a ring type cylindrical body boss (23), or of a rectangle (24).

Finally, it is noted that the apparatus may comprise one cylinder for transporting items, which cylinder may be designed for handling items e.g. in parallel, e.g. handling items in two or more lanes or tracks. It is also noted that the holes in the surface of the cylinder are placed in such a manner that only one item is picked up at a time for each track or line of items being handled. 

1. VACUUM FEEDER system comprising a transfer device for flaccid materials (1) or pieces from a transport means to another transport means or a weighing system characterized by the materials or pieces being delivered to said transfer device, the transfer device comprising a rotating cylinder (5) body having holes (9) on the cylindrical surface, said holes (9) being connected to a vacuum pump through vacuum connection means, and wherein said materials or pieces are delivered one by one to said another transport means or a weighing system.
 2. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by said materials being delivered to said transfer device in an unorderly form.
 3. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by said materials being delivered to said transfer device in accumulated form, e.g. accumulated next to the cylindrical surface.
 4. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by said vacuum connection means (10) being coupled through flanges (12, 14).
 5. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by said vacuum connection means (10) having a vacuum distribution chamber (15).
 6. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by said vacuum connection means (10) being connected to a tube (17) external to said cylinder (5).
 7. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by said vacuum connection (10) means comprising means that are placed inside said cylinder (5).
 8. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 7, characterized by that said vacuum connection means (10) being placed inside said cylinder (5) comprises a plurality of vacuum communication means.
 9. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 7, characterized by that said vacuum connection means being placed inside said cylinder (5) comprises a bundle of tubes (10).
 10. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by said materials being delivered at a level above the lower level of said cylinder (5).
 11. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by said materials being delivered at a level below the lower level of said cylinder (5).
 12. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by said materials being delivered one by one to said another transport means or a weighing system placed below said cylinder (5).
 13. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by vacuum connection means (10) being connected to the cylinder (5) body, said vacuum connection means (10) connecting each of the holes (9) on the cylindrical surface to each of a plurality of holes (11), at least some of which are arranged in a circle on one of the sides corresponding to one of the cylinder (5) bases.
 14. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by a flange (12) facing the cylinder (5) base having a passage arranged in an arc of circle form having a radius substantially equal to the radius of the circle on which at least some of the holes (11) are placed on said cylinder (5) base.
 15. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 14, characterized by having a flange (14) that overlaps a flange (12) facing the cylinder (5) base and said flange (14) having a vacuum distribution chamber (15) lined up with said passage in the flange (12) facing the cylinder (5) base.
 16. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by each hole (9) on the cylindrical surface having a socket (20) in a form of an oval nozzle resulting from an inclined cut at the end of the cylinder body that forms the socket.
 17. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by each hole (9) on the cylindrical surface having a socket (21) in a form of a circular nozzle formed by a normal cross-section of the cylinder body that forms the socket.
 18. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by each hole (9) on the cylindrical surface having a socket (22) in a form of a hollow truncated cone nozzle formed by bevelling the normal cross-section of the straight end of the cylinder body that forms the socket.
 19. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by each hole (9) on the cylindrical surface having a socket (23) in a form of a circular nozzle formed by a ring type cylindrical boss (23) on the top of the cylinder body that forms the socket.
 20. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, characterized by each hole (9) on the cylindrical surface having a socket (24) in a form of a rectangular nozzle on the top end of the cylinder body that forms the socket.
 21. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable surface is the surface of a cylinder placed at the transfer location with an axis placed essentially horizontally.
 22. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, wherein said pieces may differ in size, shape, weight etc. from each other.
 23. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, wherein pieces that are not caught by the rotating cylinder (5) body can continue to a discharge point (19) in order to be replaced on said transport means.
 24. VACUUM FEEDER system according to claim 1, wherein said pieces that are delivered by said transfer device are being graded, e.g. for packing and storing.
 25. Method of transferring items or pieces of flaccid materials, whereby said items are supplied via transport means such as a conveyor belt to a transfer location, said items are gripped from said transport means by suction means, said suction means being arranged in a rotatable cylindrical surface in such a manner that the items are gripped one by one, said items are transferred during rotation of said suction means to a release location, where suction is interrupted and the item is placed on a further transport means or a weighing system.
 26. Method according to claim 25, whereby said items or pieces are being delivered to said transfer device in an unorderly form.
 27. Method according to claim 25, whereby said items or pieces are being delivered to said transfer device in accumulated form.
 28. Method according to claim 25, whereby said rotatable cylindrical surface is the surface of a cylinder placed at the transfer location with an axis placed essentially horizontally.
 29. Method according to claim 25, whereby said items or pieces are supplied to said suction means at a level above the lower level for said rotatable cylindrical surface.
 30. Method according to claim 25, whereby said items or pieces are supplied to said suction means at a level below the lower level for said rotatable cylindrical surface.
 31. Method according to claim 25, whereby said further transport means or said weighing system is placed below said rotatable cylindrical surface and whereby said items or pieces are released one by one onto said further transport means or said weighing system.
 32. Method according to claim 25, whereby said items or pieces that are supplied via transport means such as a conveyor belt to a transfer location, are accumulated at said location until gripped by said suction means.
 33. Method according to claim 25, whereby said items or pieces may differ in size, shape, weight etc. from each other.
 34. Method according to claim 25, whereby items or pieces that are not caught by said suction means can continue to a discharge point in order to be replaced on said transport means.
 35. Method according to claim 25, whereby said items or pieces that are delivered by said transfer device are being graded, e.g. for packing and storing. 